Saint Paul, while a prisoner at Rome, had received a sum of money from the Christians at Philippi to take care of his needs. This is the letter he wrote to thank them for their kindness, to give them news of himself, to urge them to preserve unity among themselves, and to warn them against false teachers.
The Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Philippians is so pure a source of spiritual insight, understanding, and wisdom that it is presented verbatim in its entirety below.
My interpretation of this part of The New Testament starts with transcribing and copying down key parts of each chapter of the Scriptures. These notes, listed by chapter, are found at the very end at the bottom of this post.
Words and phrases that are highlighted (in bold like this) touched my heart, my soul and/or raised questions in my consciousness.
Word and phases that are NOT highlighted and in bold (like this) are the narrative I have woven to tell the story of how the Scriptures impacted me and/or expanded my biblical knowledge and spirit.
With gratitude that the Spirit of the Living God is in our hearts and impacting our world, here is my interpretation for Philippians, Chapters 1-2:
Saint Paul had a way with words for sure. “Let us Joy and Rejoice” seems to me like a good way to emphasize a good thing when it is good—doubly or triply good!
Once again Saint Paul highlights the example of Christ:
“Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, though he was by nature God, did not consider being equal to God a thing to be clung to, but emptied himself, taking the nature of a slave and being made like unto men.
And appearing in the form of man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient in death, even to death on a cross.
Therefore God also has exalted him and has bestowed upon him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth and under earth, and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.”
Let us Joy & Rejoice in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Philippians Chapter 1: Greeting; Thanksgiving and Prayer; Propagation of the Gospel; Sentiments of St. Paul: Firmness.
Greeting:
Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons; a grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ (no mention of The Holy Spirit?).
Thanksgiving and Prayer:
I give thanks to my God in all my remembrance of you, always in all my prayers making supplications for you all with joy, because of your association with me in spreading the gospel of Christ from the first day until now.
I am convinced of this, that he who has begun a good work in you will bring it to perfection until the day of Jesus Christ.
And I have a right to feel so about you all, because I have you in my heart, all of you, alike in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, as sharers in my joy.
For God is my witness how I long for you all in the heart of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the better things, that you may be upright and without offense unto the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Propagation of the Gospel:
Now I wish you to know, brethren, that my experiences have turned out rather for the advancement of the gospel, so that the chains I bear for the sake of Christ have become manifest as such throughout the praetorium and in all other places.
And the greater number of the brethren in the Lord, gaining courage from my chains, have dared to speak the word of God more freely and without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and contentiousness, but some also out of good will.
Some proclaim Christ out of love since they know I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; but some out of contentiousness, not sincerely, thinking to stir up affliction for me in my chains.
But what of it?
Provided that in every way, whether in pretense or truth, Christ is being proclaimed; in this I rejoice, yes and I shall rejoice.
For I know that this will turn out for my salvation, thanks to your prayer and the assistance of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, in accord with my eager longing and hope that in nothing I shall be put to shame, but that with complete assurance now as at all times Christ will be glorified in my body, whether through life or through death.
Sentiments of St. Paul:
For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if to live in the flesh is my lot, this means for me fruitful labor, and I do not know what to choose. Indeed I am hard pressed from both sides—desiring to depart and to be with Christ, a lot by far the better; yet to stay on in the flesh is necessary for your sake.
And with this conviction I know that I shall stay on and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, that your rejoicing in my regard may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.
Firmness:
Only let your lives be worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that, whether I come and see you, or remain absent, I may hear about you, that you are steadfast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.
Do not be terrified in any way by the adversaries; for this to them is a reason for destruction, but to you for salvation, and that from God.
For you have been given the favor on Christ’s behalf—not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him, while engaged in the same struggle in which you have seen me and now have heard of me.
Philippians Chapter 2: Unity and Humility; Example of Christ; Fear and Joy in Serving; Paul Plans to Send Timothy to Them (Philippians); Epaphroditus.
Unity and Humility:
If, therefore, there is any comfort in Christ, any encouragement from charity, any fellowship in the Spirit, any feelings of mercy, fill up my joy by thinking alike, having the same charity, with one soul and one mind.
Do nothing out of contentiousness or out of vainglory, but in humility let each one regard the others as his superiors, each one looking not to his own interests but to those of others.
Example of Christ:
And appearing in the form of man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient in death, even to death on a cross.
Therefore God also has exalted him and has bestowed upon him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth and under earth, and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.
Fear and Joy in Serving:
Wherefore, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God who of his good pleasure works in you both the will and the performance. Do all things without murmuring and without questioning, so as to be blameless and guileless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a depraved and perverse generation.
For among these you shine like stars in the world, holding fast the word of life to my glory against the day of Christ; because not in vain have I run, neither in vain have I labored.
But even if I am made the libation for the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you. And in the same way do you also joy and rejoice with me.
Paul Plans to Send Timothy to Them (Philippians):
Now I hope in the Lord Jesus shortly to send Timothy to you, that I also may be of good cheer when I know your circumstances.
For I have no one so like-minded who is so genuinely solicitous for you. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
But know his worth: as child serves father, so he has served with me in spreading the gospel. I hope then to send him to you as soon as I see how things stand with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come to you shortly.
Epaphroditus:
But I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, but for you a messenger and the minister to my need.
For he was longing for all of you and was grieved because you had heard that he was sick. Yes, he was sick, almost unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.
Therefore I send him the more speedily, in order that seeing him again you may rejoice and that I may be free from sorrow. Welcome him, then, with all joy in the Lord and show honor to men like him, because for the work of Christ he drew near to death, risking his life to supply what was lacking for your service to me.
Day 176: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Let us Joy & Rejoice in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Epistle of Saint Paul to the Philippians, Chapters 1-2.
Bible Notes:
Saint Paul, while a prisoner at Rome, had received a sum of money from the Christians at Philippi to take care of his needs. This is the letter he wrote to thank them for their kindness, to give them news of himself, to urge them to preserve unity among themselves, and to warn them against false teachers.
Philippians Chapter 1: Greeting; Thanksgiving and Prayer; Propagation of the Gospel; Sentiments of St. Paul: Firmness.
Greeting:
Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons; a grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ (no mention of The Holy Spirit?).
Thanksgiving and Prayer:
I give thanks to my God in all my remembrance of you, always in all my prayers making supplications for you all with joy, because of your association with me in spreading the gospel of Christ from the first day until now.
Supplications—an act or instance of supplicating; humble prayer, entreaty, or petition—to pray humbly; make humble and earnest entreaty or petition—to pray humbly to; entreat or petition humbly—to seek or ask for by humble entreaty.
I am convinced of this, that he who has begun a good work in you will bring it to perfection until the day of Jesus Christ.
And I have a right to feel so about you all, because I have you in my heart, all of you, alike in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, as sharers in my joy.
For God is my witness how I long for you all in the heart of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the better things, that you may be upright and without offense unto the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Propagation of the Gospel:
Now I wish you to know, brethren, that my experiences have turned out rather for the advancement of the gospel, so that the chains I bear for the sake of Christ have become manifest as such throughout the praetorium and in all other places.
And the greater number of the brethren in the Lord, gaining courage from my chains, have dared to speak the word of God more freely and without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and contentiousness, but some also out of good will.
Some proclaim Christ out of love since they know I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; but some out of contentiousness, not sincerely, thinking to stir up affliction for me in my chains.
But what of it?
Provided that in every way, whether in pretense or truth, Christ is being proclaimed; in this I rejoice, yes and I shall rejoice.
For I know that this will turn out for my salvation, thanks to your prayer and the assistance of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, in accord with my eager longing and hope that in nothing I shall be put to shame, but that with complete assurance now as at all times Christ will be glorified in my body, whether through life or through death.
Sentiments of St. Paul:
For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if to live in the flesh is my lot, this means for me fruitful labor, and I do not know what to choose. Indeed I am hard pressed from both sides—desiring to depart and to be with Christ, a lot by far the better; yet to stay on in the flesh is necessary for your sake.
And with this conviction I know that I shall stay on and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, that your rejoicing in my regard may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.
Firmness:
Only let your lives be worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that, whether I come and see you, or remain absent, I may hear about you, that you are steadfast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.
Do not be terrified in any way by the adversaries; for this to them is a reason for destruction, but to you for salvation, and that from God.
For you have been given the favor on Christ’s behalf—not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him, while engaged in the same struggle in which you have seen me and now have heard of me.
Philippians Chapter 2: Unity and Humility; Example of Christ; Fear and Joy in Serving; Paul Plans to Send Timothy to Them (Philippians); Epaphroditus.
Unity and Humility:
If, therefore, there is any comfort in Christ, any encouragement from charity, any fellowship in the Spirit, any feelings of mercy, fill up my joy by thinking alike, having the same charity, with one soul and one mind.
Do nothing out of contentiousness or out of vainglory, but in humility let each one regard the others as his superiors, each one looking not to his own interests but to those of others.
Example of Christ:
Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, though he was by nature God, did not consider being equal to God a thing to be clung to, but emptied himself, taking the nature of a slave and being made like unto men.
And appearing in the form of man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient in death, even to death on a cross.
Therefore God also has exalted him and has bestowed upon him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth and under earth, and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.
Fear and Joy in Serving:
Wherefore, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God who of his good pleasure works in you both the will and the performance. Do all things without murmuring and without questioning, so as to be blameless and guileless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a depraved and perverse generation.
Guileless—free from guile; sincere; honest; straightforward; frank—not insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception; duplicity.
For among these you shine like stars in the world, holding fast the word of life to my glory against the day of Christ; because not in vain have I run, neither in vain have I labored.
But even if I am made the libation for the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you. And in the same way do you also joy and rejoice with me.
Paul Plans to Send Timothy to Them (Philippians):
Now I hope in the Lord Jesus shortly to send Timothy to you, that I also may be of good cheer when I know your circumstances.
For I have no one so like-minded who is so genuinely solicitous for you. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
Solicitous—anxious or concerned—eager—careful or particular.
But know his worth: as child serves father, so he has served with me in spreading the gospel. I hope then to send him to you as soon as I see how things stand with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come to you shortly.
Epaphroditus:
But I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, but for you a messenger and the minister to my need.
For he was longing for all of you and was grieved because you had heard that he was sick. Yes, he was sick, almost unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.
Therefore I send him the more speedily, in order that seeing him again you may rejoice and that I may be free from sorrow. Welcome him, then, with all joy in the Lord and show honor to men like him, because for the work of Christ he drew near to death, risking his life to supply what was lacking for your service to me.
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